Slug casting machine



Dec. 11, 1934. "G. P. KINGSBURY SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 5, 1953 ll Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR fi ATT NEYS Dec. 11, 1934.- G, P. KINGSBURY SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 5, 1955 I1 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR BY @w w Dec. 11, 1934. KlNGsBURY 1,983,615

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SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 5, 1933 ll Sheets-Sheet 4 f 11v VENTOR Dec. 11, 1934. G P, KWGSBURY 1,983,615

SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed g- 1955 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 2 f INVENTO'R Dec. 11, 1934. G. P. KINGSBURY 1,983,615:

' SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 5, 1933 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 Y I INVENTORI WWZW A TTOR 5 VS Dec. 11, 1934.

G. P. KINGSBURY SLUG CASTING MACHINE ll Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Aug. 5, 1935 illiiii:

A TTORNE D 1934- i G. P. KINGSBURY I 1,983,615

SLUG CASTING MACHINE F'iled g- 5, 3 Sheets-Sheet 8 f INVENTOR ATTOR EYS Dec. 11, 1934. VG. P. KINGSBURY 1,

SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 5, 1955 ll Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR Dec. 11, 1934.

G. P. KINGSBURY 1,983,615

SLUG CASTING MACHINE ll Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Aug. 5, 1935 AT 0R YJ Dec. 11, 1934. G. P. KINGSBURY I 1,983,615

' SLUG CASTING MACHINE Fi'led Aug. 5, 1935 11 Sheets-Sheet l N i INVENTOR Q B Y $7, W QR I M A TTO EYS Patented Dec. 11, 1934 PATENT OFFICE SLUG CASTING MACHINE George P. Kingsbury, H

ollis, N. Y., assignor to Mergenthaler Linotype Company, a corporation oi New York Application August 5, 1933, Serial No. 683,859

32 Claims.

This invention is directed to an improved slug casting machine capable of producing type bars or slugs from a. line of matrices composed in a hand stick, the characters of the slugs having a range in point size sufficient to meet all practical requirements of the trade. The machine is equipped with eight molds, any one of which may be selected for use as desired. Two of the molds are of ordinary form to cooperate with the regular linotype matrices, while the other six are of special form to cooperate with special matrices of larger size, such as those handled by the machine shown and described in the pending application to A. J. Stouges, Serial No. 545,398.

In the use of the machine, a hand stick containing the composed matrix line is placed in the machine preparatory to the inauguration of the machine cycle, and during the cycle a slug is cast against the matrix line in a selected mold, ejected therefrom, trimmed and finally stacked in a galley arranged conveniently at the front of the machine. The several molds, which comprise respectively a fixed body portion and an adjustable cap portion, are mounted radially and at equal distances apart in a rotatable wheel or disk, and the casting surfaces of their body portions, which are constant, are adapted to stand in the same horizontal plane when the molds occupy the casting and ejecting positions.

The characters of the regular matrix fonts are positioned as usual with reference to a datum line which passes through the tops of the upper case characters (inverted), all characters throughout the various fonts growing upwardly from this line as their size increases. Due to such alignment, it is impossible to mix different sizes of characters in the same line, but in casting from these matrices, the composed lines irrespective of character size may be presented to the molds at a common level and the width of the mold slot varied to suit the particular font in use by adjusting the cap portion of the mold toward or from the body portion.

The characters of the special matrix fonts herein employed, like those described in the Stouges application above mentioned, are positioned with reference to a datum line which passes through the bases of the upper case characters (inverted), so that characters of different sizes may be mixed in the same line and still be properly aligned. With this particular alignment, the characters grow downwardly from the datum line as their size increases, and consequently the composed matrix lines must be presented to the molds at different levels to bring the tops of the upper case characters in register with the fixed casting surfaces of the mold body portions.

In carrying out the present invention, it is proposed to attach the hand stick, wherein the matrices are composed, directly to the mold and a sponding holes or recesses, whereby the stick may be supported by the mold with the matrix characters in proper alignment with the mold cavity.

ihe special molds are shallower (from front to rear) than the regular linotype molds, and the special matrices are therefore formed with routing notches sufliciently deep to compensate for the reduced depth of the molds. While these special molds are mainly of the recessed variety for producing ribbed slugs above 14 pt. in thickness, they will include one or more plain molds of, say, 12 pt. body size, which may be employed for casting L-shaped slugs having an overhanging top portion cast in the routing notches of the matrices. When molds of this latter type are in use, the hand stick will be supported thereby in but one transverse position, irrespective of the point size of the matrices it happens to contain, the bases of the matrix characters being aligned with the cap portion of the mold and the tops of the characters (above 12 pt.) overlapping the body portion thereof. Slugs having ribbed (instead of plain) body portions, but formed likewise with overhanging top portions, may also be produced by employing one of the recessed molds having a body size of less than the point size of the matrices in the hand stick.

In the operation of the machine, the hand stick is automatically detached from the active mold immediately after the casting operation, so as to permit the ejection of the slug to take place in the regular way without interrupting the machine cycle.

Various other features of the improved machine will be fully set forth in the detailed description to follow.

In the accompanying drawings, the improvements have been shown merely in preferred form and by way of example, and obviously many changes and variations may be made therein and in their mode of adaptation, without departing,

from the spirit or scope of the invention. It should, therefore, be understood that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment except insofar-as such limitations are specified in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the improved machine, showing the parts in their normal position of rest;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking toward the right;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2, looking toward the right; i

Fig. 6 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, showing the relation of the hand stick to its detaching mechanism as it approaches the casting position;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front view of a plain special mold showing two matrices in proper casting relation thereto;

Fig. 8 is a similar view of a recessed special 72 pt. mold showing a 120 pt. matrix in proper casting relation thereto;

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of a portion of a slug cast from the mold and matrix shown in Fi 8;

Fig. '10 is an enlarged vertical section through the casting mechanism showing the position of the parts just before the slug is cast;

Fig. 11 is a vertical section showing the blankslug casting bar in active position;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view, partly in section, showing the manner in which the hand stick is applied to a mold;

Fig. 13 is a detailed perspective view of one of the upper stick-detaching pawls;

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of the casting and stick-detaching mechanisms, the hand stick being indicated by broken lines;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a portion of a ribbed slug cast in one of the special molds;

Fig. 16 is a similar view of an L-shaped slug cast in a plain special mold;

Fig. 1'7 is a perspective View of a special matrix;

Fig. 18 is a front view of a mold disk or carrier showing the arrangement of the different types of molds employed;

Fig. 19 is a detail vertical section through one of the regular recessed molds, showing a hand stick attached thereto and holding a line of the regular single-letter matrices in casting relation therewith;

Fig. 20 is a similar View showing the hand stick holding a line of the regular two-letter matrices in casting relation with a regular plain mold;

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of a portion of the mold shown in Fig. 19;

Fig. 22 is a detail perspective View showing the adjustable line-banking block of the regular stick and the relation of the removable matrix supporting bar therewith;

Fig. 23 is a perspective View of the adjustable line-banking block of the special stick;

Fig. 24 is a vertical section taken on line 2 i-2 l of Fig. 25 through the ejecting and slug trimming mechanisms and showing a slug being pushed between knives;

Fig. 25 is a rear elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 24, as indicated by the line 25-25 thereof;

Fig. 26 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of the hand stick employed for the special matrices and showing a matrix line clamped. therein;

Fig. 27 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the parts shown in Fig. 26;

Fig. 28 is a vertical section taken on the line 28-28 of Fig. 26;

Fig. 29 is a diagrammatic view showing the different transverse positions of the special matrices of various point sizes to special recessed molds of corresponding body sizes;

Fig. 30 is a vertical section through a special mold showing a hand stick, holding special matrices, attached thereto;

Fig. 31 is a similar view showing a hand stick of a different form to accommodate the larger special matrices having oversized characters; and

Figure 32 is a face view of several special matrices of diiferent fonts arranged side by side to indicate the universal base alignment of their characters.

The regular matrices Y and Y (see Figs. 19 and 20) are formed as usual with the upper projecting ears 1/ and the lower projecting ears 1/ The matrices Y are provided with two superposed characters 1/ of the smaller text fonts having a range up to 14 pt., whereas the matrices Y are pro vided with but a single character 1/ of the larger display fonts having a range above 14 pt.

The special matrices X (Fig. 17) are of plain rectangular shape, being devoid of projecting ears, and are formed with deep routing notches :c which extend transversely across their casting edges; The characters m of these matrices are punched in the bottoms of the notches a: and have a range up to '72 pt. in height. As before stated, the characters x throughout the several fonts are positioned for base alignment with reference to a common datum line ab (Fig. 32), so that they will be properly aligned irrespective of font when they are composed in line and supported by their bottom edges.

The matrix equipment includes other special matrices Z (Fig. 81) capable of bearing characters ranging above '72 pt. in height. These particular matrices may either be used alone or in conjunction with the matrices X (see Fig. 32), since the characters 2 thereof are positioned with reference to the same datum line ab. The aligning surfaces of the matrices Z, however, are formed on the upper walls of notches 2 cut in their front edges and located at a predetermined distance below said datum line. Thin dummy matrices Z devoid of characters, but identical in form and size with the character matrices Z, are used in conjunction with these matrices to prevent the escape of metal from their routing notches during casting, see Figs. 8 and 32.

The special matrices X are composed in a hand stick J (Fig. 30), the regular matrices Y and Y are composed in a hand stick K (Figs. 19 and 20), and the special matrices Z are composed in a hand stick L (Fig. 31), the several sticks differing in form to correspond to the different styles of matrices employed. The hand stick L, however, is also adapted to hold the special matrices X and is employed when these matrices are used in conjunction with the special matrices Z. At such times, the matrices X and Z will be aligned in the stick L on a common supporting rail L hich engages in notches a in the matrices Z and corresponding notches :0 in the ma trices X.

When the matrices X are to be used alone, the stick J is employed, the matrices being then supported by their bottom edges upon the base portion J of the stick. After the line is completely composed, it is locked endwise in place between a pair of banking blocks or abutments J J by means of a clamping device arranged at one end of the stick (see Figs. 26, 2'7, and 28).

The abutment J at the left (Fig. 2'7) is fixed, while the one J at the right is attached to a slidable L-shaped member J so as to be movable into and out of contact with the matrix line. The movement of the member J 4 is controlled by a pivoted hand-operated cam J through the medium of a toggle J which is anchored at one end to the stick and connected at the opposite end to said member. When the cam J 5 is turned in one direction, it is adapted to straighten out the toggle J 6 to lock the matrix line in the stick, whereas when it is turned in the other direction, it is adapted to permit collapsing of the toggle and the release of the line. The abutments J J (Fig. 23) correspond in size with that of the matrices and the movement of the abutment J is sufficient to take up slight variations (up to, say, 2 ems) in the length of lines, thereby obviating the necessity for accurate composition or quadding. For reasons presently to appear, the stick J (Figs. 26 and 27) is also provided with a pair of fixed studs J which are aligned horizontally with each other and project from the rear face of the stick near its opposite ends.

The hand stick K for the regular matrices Y, Y (Figs. 19 and 20) is similar in general construction to the stick J, being equipped with the same sort of line clamping device K banking blocks K and a pair of fixed studs K which latter correspond to the studs J The single-letter matrices Y are composed at only one level in the stick K, whereas the two-letter matrices Y may be composed at either of two levels therein to locate one or the other of their superposed characters in the casting position. When composed at the lower level, the matrices Y, like the matrices Y will be supported by their bottom edges upon the base portion of the stick, and when composed at the higher level, they will be supported either by their lower projecting ears 21 upon a fixed rail 7c formed in the front wall of the stick, or by their bottom edges upon an auxiliary bar K which may be positioned in the stick upon the base portion thereof between the banking blocks K The bar K (Figs. 20 and 22) is held in place by means of studs or detents I0 and in order to prevent interference with the action of the clamping device, one end of the bar is reduced in width and arranged to engage a corresponding notch formed in the lower edge of the banking block K associated with said device (see Fig. 22). The bar K is employed only when solid lines of Italic are desired, and the rail is utilized when the lines contain Roman as well as Italic characters, the matrices being then assembled at both levels in the stick K.

The machine, as shown in Figs. 1 and 18, is equipped with two regular molds A and six special molds A, all of which molds are mounted in a rotatable disk B with their longitudinal axes disposed radially about the center of the disk. The molds A are of usual construction to cooperate with the regular matrices Y, Y in producing the common type of ribbed and plain slugs (not shown) whereas the molds A are of special construction to cooperate with the special matrices X or Z in producing ribbed slugs Q, as in Fig. 15, L-shaped slugs Q as in Fig. 16, or ribbed slugs Q having an overhanging top portion Q as in Fig. 9. Each of the several molds comprises a fixed body portion A an adjustable or interchangeable cap portion A and a pair of intermediate liners or end walls A which are also interchangeable and determine the widthiof the mold slot. The body portions A of the molds are permanently secured to the disk B, and the casting surfaces a thereof are constant, each being adapted to occupy the same horizontal plane when the individual molds are brought into the casting and ejecting positions.

One of the regular molds A is representative of the recessed or head-letter variety, having a range ordinarily from i l to 36 pt., and its cap portion is formed with core sections which project into the mold cavity. The other regular mold is representative of the unrecessed variety, having a range below 14 pt. and its cap portion is formed with a plain flat casting surface, like the body portion. Both of these molds, as may be observed (Figs.19 and 20), are cut away in their front faces to clear the projecting ears 1/ 3/ of the regular matrices when the latter are presented thereto for casting.

The special molds A have plain flat front faces, but otherwise, except as to depth, are similar in construction to the regular molds A, five of those shown being of the recessed type to provide a selection of slug forming cavities ranging from, say, 36 pt. to '72 pt. in width and the one remaining being of the plain unrecessed type with a 12 or 14 pt. cavity. This particular assortment of molds is, of course, merely illustrative and may be varied as required.

In the present instance, the end walls or liners A of the molds A, A are constructed so as to give support to the corresponding hand sticks J,

K, L, which latter are applied thereto manually while the machine is at rest. Thus (see Figs. 18 and 21), the liners of the regular molds A are formed with holes or recesses a to receive the aligning studs K of the stick K, and the liners of the special molds A (see Figs. 8, 9, and 29) are formed with similar holes or recesses 11 to receive the aligning studs J of the sticks J and L.

The location of the holes a of the regular molds A, with reference to the constant line ,a thereof, is fixed and such that when the hand stick K is applied to these molds, the datum line of the regular matrices Y or Y (passing through the tops of the upper case characters) will register with said constant line; whereas the location of the holes a of the special recessed molds A with reference to this constant line a, varies according to the width of the mold cavity, so that when the hand stick J or L is applied to these molds, the datum line of the special matrices X (passing through the bases of the upper case characters) will be properly positioned relatively to the mold caps and the tops of the char acters brought into register with the constant line a. In other words, the stick J or L will be supported by the special molds A through the engagement of the studs J with the holes o in one or another of a series of different transverse positions and the special matrices of the different fonts or point sizes will thus be brought into the proper casting relation to the mold cavities. While the self-supporting ribbed slugs Q (Figs. 9 and 15), which may have a range up to 72 pt. in thickness, are produced in this way from the special recessed molds A the L-shaped or overhanging slugs Q which may also have a range up to "72 pt. in thickness, are produced. from the special unrecessed mold A the stick J in the latter case being then supported in only one transverse position irrespective of the font or point size of the matrices composed therein, see Fig. 7.

Any one of the molds A, A may be selected for use in the usual way by a manual adjustment of the disk B about its axis through the medium of its driving pinion E the active mold, as shown in Fig. 1, being adapted when the machine is at rest to occupy a vertical position directly above the center of the disk where it is fully exposed and readily accessible.

In applying a stick J, K or L to a mold thus selected, it is first placed in upright position upon a shelf C and then pushed rearwardly to engage its two supporting or aligning studs with the holes in the mold liners. The shelf C (Fig. 1) is formed on a stationary segmental plate C, which rises from a cross beam of the main frame and which, for reasons presently to appear, has its inner face disposed at a given distance from the front face of the disk B. To hold the stick in place after it is applied to the mold, the plate (3 provided with a hinged retaining bar C arranged flush with the inner face of the plate (Fig. 12) and which may be swung downwardly and upwardly to and from its active position across the front face of the hand stick. In this connection, it may be mentioned (although not illustrated) that, as an element of safety to prevent application of the sticks J or L to a regular mold A, or the stick K to a special mold A the horizontal distance between the aligning studs .l of the sticks J and L will differ slightly from that between the studs K of the stick K, and the distance between the holes in the liners of the respective molds will also differ to correspond.

With the hand stick attached to the selected mold, the machine cycle (which consists as usual of one complete revolution of the main shaft R) may be inaugurated by operating a hand lever T located at the front of the machine and connected in known. manner through a fore-and-aft bar T and a bell-crank lever T to the main driving clutch T During the first part of the cycle, the mold disk B is turned counter-clockwise through 90 to carry the active mold and attached hand stick from the vertical to a horizontal position for casting, the stick meanwhile being guided and restrained in its course of travel against possible dislodgment from the mold by the inner face of the front plate C. In approaching the casting position, the stick passes out of engagement with the front plate C and thence into engagement with a pair of supporting fingers D, which project rearwardly into the path of the stick from a pair of vertical rods D slidably mounted in the cross beam 0. These rods D (see Fig. 6) are provided with pull springs D which urge them upwardly and maintain the fingers D resiliently in the normal position shown in Fig. 6, so that they will be capable of yielding when engaged by the sticks and thus adapt themselves thereto irrespective of the different transverse positions the sticks occupy on the molds.

As the cycle proceeds, the mold disk is advanced into engagement with a pair of fixed loeating studs 0 (Fig. 2) which project rearwardly from the cross beam 0, and the stick J (being the one shown in use) is thus carried forwardly and clamped against the rear face of the said beam, see Fig. 10. The metal pot U is then also advanced from its normal position behind the disk B to bring the mouthpiece U thereof in fluid-tight engagement with the back of the mold, the pot plungers descend to eject the molten metal into the mold against the matrix line in the stick, and after the slug is cast, the metal pot and mold disk recede.

As the mold disk is retracted, the hand stick is automatically detached from the mold and left supported upon the fingers D in a position from which it may be conveniently removed from the machine. The means provided for this purpose (see Figs. 10 and 14) consist merely of two pairs of pawls or detents d, (1 respectively, which are adapted to grip the stick as it banks against the cross beam 0 and hold it against rearward movement as the mold backs away. The pawls d are pivoted to the fingers D and engage corresponding notches 7' formed in the bottom of stick J, while the pawls d are pivoted at the upper ends of the vertical rods D and engage similar notches 7' formed in the top of said stick. The sticks K and L are also formed with such notches, but since only the stick J has been illustrated indetail, they do not appear.

As the cam shaft R continues to revolve, the disk B is turned through an additional 180 to carry the mold and cast slug from the casting to the ejecting position and incidentally past a stationary back knife V, which trims the base of the slug (see dotted lines Figs. 1 and 3). The disk B is now moved forward a second time into engagement with the locating studs 0 and the active mold A caused to bank directly against a pair of stop shoulders e which support it facewise in operative relation to a pair of horizontally disposed trimming knives E, E see Fig. 24. With the parts in this position, a reciprocable ejector F controlled from the cam shaft R is operated to push the slug out of the mold and past the cutting edges of said knives which trim the side faces of the slug and bring it to accurate size. The mold disk thereupon recedes and, as the cycle of operation is completed, is turned through the remaining 90 to return the active mold to its normal or vertical stick-receiving position.

The slug trimming mechanism herein shown is similar to that described in the Stouges application before mentioned and to which reference may be had if desired. Thus, thelower knife E is adjustable toward and from the opposing knife E to correspond to the set position of the capportion of the active mold, while the upper knife E is not adjustable and is adapted normally to correspond to the fixed position of the casting surface a of the mold body portions. However, to permit the ejection of the L-shaped slugs Q the upper knife E is movable bodily to inactive position so as to stand out of the path of the overhanging top portions of these slugs when they are ejected.

As best shown in Figs. 24 and 25, the trimming knives E, E are secured to individual supporting blocks E E which are slidably mounted at their opposite ends on a pair of fixed Vertical rods E so that they may be moved upwardly and downwardly to vary the position of the knives. The rods E are mounted in stationary brackets E E and provided with compression springs E which react against colars li. pinned to the rods and tend to push the supporting block E for the lower knife downwardly. The block E is sustained against the tension of the springs E by a rotatable edge cam E fast to the rear end of a short fore-and-aft shaft E and engaging an antifriction roller E mounted in the block E The shaft E is operable by a small crank handle E secured to the front end thereof and adapted to be set in different angular positions with reference to a dial plate E The arrangement is such that when the cam E is turned in one direction,'the

block E wil be raised against the tension of the springs E to move the knife E toward the opposing knife E and when turned in the opposite direction, the springs will act to lower the block under control of the cam, and thus move the knife E away from the knife E The vertical movements of the supporting block E for the upper knife E are effected by a small rotatable cam plate E arranged within a recess e formed in said block and operable by a knob or handle E located conveniently above the hand crank E in front of the cross beam 0. When turned one way, the cam plate E is adapted to clamp the block E down upon the collars E of the fixed guide rods E to hold the knife E in its active or slug trimming position (Figs. 25 and 26) and when turned the other way, it is, adapted through its engagement with the upper wall of 20':the recess e to raise the knife E to its inactive position.

Slugs ejected from the molds are pushed beyond the trimming knives E, E by the ejector F and deposited in an inclined chute G leading down- :wardly toa galley H arranged at the extreme right of the machine, see Fig. 1. The chute G is made up of an upper section G and a lower section G the section G (Fig. 24) being fastened to the lower knife block E so as to maintain a definite relation to the knife E in its different adjusted positions, and the section G being carried by a leaf spring 9 (Fig. '1) so as to be capable of adapting itself to the corresponding positions of the section G As the slugs enter the galley,

;they find initial facewise support upon a stacker arm I-I which thereupon pushes them into the galley proper and stacks them in line.

The stacker arm H (see Figs. 1, 2, and 5) is fast to the front end of a fore-and-aft rock "shaft H which is controlled from a cam R of the main shaft B, through an intermediate bellcrank lever H and a crank arm H secured to the rear end of the rock shaft. The shorter upright arm of the bell-crank lever H (see Figs. 2 and 5) is provided with an anti-friction roller h which.

tracks upon the cam R whilethe longer horizontal arm thereof engages the crank arm 1-1 and holds it down against the pull of a spring H anchored to the framework. As a low portion of the carnR is brought opposite the roller h, the spring H is allowed to turn the shaft H clockwise and thus impart the active stroke to the stacker arm H and as the high portion of said cam engages said roller,the shaft H is turned by the lever H in the opposite direction and the stacker arm is returned to its normal position shown in Fig. 1.

As another feature of the invention, it is proposed, in casting blank slugs or furniture, to dispense with the hand sticks J, K, L and employ a bar I, which is permanently mounted in the machine and adapted in the absence of a stick, to close the cavity of a selected mold at the front when casting. The bar I, as best shown in Figs. 10, 11, and 14, is hingedly mounted in the cross beam of the main frame and arranged to be swung from a neutral or inactive horizontal position rearwardly and downwardly into an active vertical position for cooperation with a mold located at the casting station, see Fig. 11. Specifically, the bar I is secured to a supporting block I which is journalled at its opposite ends by means of trunnions I in slotted bearings of to engage a web of the supporting block I are adapted to sustainthe bar I in its active and inactive positions respectively. The over-balanced weight of the member'I sufliccs to maintain the barv I in its active position (Fig. 11) and a casting, the block I (as permitted by the slotted bearings in the bracket plates I will be pushed by the mold against the rear face of the said beam, so that the force of the lock up will be transmitted to the main frame.

When it is desired to replenish a stock of blank slugs or furniture of a given size, it is customary in commercial machines to lock the clutch control lever in such position as topermit continuous operation of the machine. This procedure, however, is likely to cause overheating of the mold and imperfect slugs if prolonged beyond a certain time limit. To overcome this difliculty and at the same time permit blank slugs of various sizes to be produced under similar conditions, means are provided for reducing the extent of rotation of the mold disk B by 90, during each revolution of the main shaft R, so that the several molds carried by the disk will be carried to the casting position consecutively. Thus,

as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and .4, the segmental rack knob or handle m and adapted to engage corresponding latch plates m fastened to the wheel M The extent of the rack section M and its angular position on the rack wheel M are. such as to efiect the quarter turn given the mold disk B at the time the latter is adapted to carry an active mold from the ejecting" to the normal or stick-receiving position.

With this arrangement, when the rack section M occupies its active position as shown by the full lines in Fig. 4, a complete turn will be imparted to the disk B at each machine cycle, (this being ordinarily the case in using the same mold for successive casts),but when the section M is rocked to its inactive position, as indicated by theydotted lines in Fig. 4, only a three quarter turn will be imparted to the disk at each cycle, with the result that different molds will occupy the casting position as the cycles are repeated.

While perhaps unnecessary, since they are quite similar to the parts employed in the combe made to the operating parts for the mold disk B, the metal pot U and its pump plungers, and the slug ejector F.

As clearly shown in Fig. 2, the mold disk B is formed with a hub portion 1) capable of an axial sliding as well as a rotating movement upon a stationary supporting rod b Also mounted upon the-rod 12 but with capacity for axial sliding movement only, is a sleeve b connected by a series of pawls or hooks b to a ring or annular main shaft R. As will be noted from Fig. 5, the

cam b is shaped so as to,advance and retract the mold disk twice at each rotation of the main shaft in the manner before described. g

The metal pot U has two legs u mounted to turn on a fixed supportingrod 1L At the rear,

the pot is provided with a roller u arranged to track upon a rotary peripheral cam 11. on the main shaft R, all in the usual way.

The pot plungers U are operated in the usual way bylevers u and a both pivotally mounted on a fixed bearing rod a. The second lever u is constantly urged downward by a spring it", which effects the pumping stroke, but the action of the spring is controlled by a cam u on the main shaft Rcooperating through a roller 11. with the first lever u.

The ejector blade F is connected at its rear end to a slide F which in turn is connected by a link F to the upper end of a lever F journalled at F in the machine frame and provided with a short rearwardly extending arm F A spring F pulling downwardly on the arm F serves normally to withdraw the ejector blade and to hold a roller f on the lever F in contact with a peripheral cam F on the main shaft R. The configuration of the cam F is of course such that it will drive the ejector blade I? forward through the mold to dislodge the cast slug at the time the mold is presented in the slug ejecting position as before described.

The main shaft R is operated from the motor driven shaft R through a small pinion R on the latter and a much larger pinion R on the former.

The automatic stopping of the main shaft R, after it has made one complete rotation, is eifected by the dog W carried by the wheel W fast to the main shaft. The action of the dog, in throwing out the main clutch T is very well known and requires no elaboration.

It will be understood that while in the preferred embodiment illustrated the hand stick is attachable directly to the molds, this is not absolutely essential, since the invention in its broader aspects contemplates means associated directly or indirectly with each mold for mounting the hand stick in casting relation thereto; it being remembered that different molds require different transverse positions of the hand stick to locate the matrix characters in proper register with the mold slots.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: N

1. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a slotted mold, a movable support therefor, a hand stick for holding a composed line of matrices, and means for mounting the hand stick on the mold support with the matrix characters in regis-g ter with the mold slot.

2. A combination as in claim 1, characterized by the fact that. the mounting means therein referred to consist of studs carried by the hand stick and arranged to engage in corresponding apertures formed in the mold.

3. In a slug casting machine adapted to be equipped with matrices formed in their casting edges with intaglio characters of difierent heights located thereon for common base alignment, the combination of a portable hand stick for holding a composed line of matrices, a slotted mold comprising a fixed body portion and a cap portion .adapted to be set at a distance from the body portion toaccord with the height of the matrix characters in use, and means for detachably sup porting the hand stick in one or another of a series of different positions transversely of the mold according to the position of its cap portion.

4. A combination as in claim 3, characterized by the fact that the stick supporting means consist of direct connections between the stick and mold. V

5. In a slug casting machine adapted to be equipped with matrices formed in their casting edges with intaglio characters of different heights located thereon for common base alignment, the combination of a hand stick for holding a com; posed line of matrices, a slotted mold comprising a fixedbody portion, an adjustable cap portion and a pair of intermediate liners or end walls interchangeable with others to vary the width of the mold slot according to the height of the matrix characters in use, and a pair of studs carried by the hand stick and arranged to engage in corresponding apertures formed in the mold liners.

6. A combination as in claim 5, characterized by the fact that the apertures in the different mold liners are spaced at different perpendicular distances from the casting surface of the mold body portion according to the width of the mold slot.

'7. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a slotted mold, a hand stick for holding a composed line of the matrices in casting relation thereto, and means associated withthe mold to locate the hand stick in proper transverse position to bring the matrix characters in register with the mold slot.

8. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a series of molds having slots or cavities of diiferent widths, a hand stick for holding a composed line of the matrices in casting relation thereto, and means associated with the respective molds to locate the hand stick in different transverse positions according to the Width of the mold slots.

9. In a slug casting machine, the combination 7' of a slotted mold, a support therefor, a hand stick for holding a composed line of the matrices, and means for mounting the hand stick on the mold support with the matrix characters in register with the mold slot, said mold support being movable from a position ofrest to carry the mold and hand stick to casting position.

10. A combination as in claim 9, including means for restraining the hand stick against displacement during the movement of the mold support. 7

11. m a slug casting machine, the combination of a slotted mold, a support therefor; a hand stick for holding a composed line of the matrices, means whereby the hand stick may be attached to the mold support with the matrix line in casting relation thereto, and means for automatically detaching the hand stick from the mold support after the casting operation.

12. A combination as in claim 11, wherein the mold support is movable a limited distance forwardly and backwardly before and after casting, and characterized by the fact that the hand stick detaching means is rendered effective as the mold to any selected one of the molds, and means ef- I fective after casting for automatically detaching the hand stick from the selected mold.

14. A combination as in claim 13, including a subsidiary support to receive the hand stick when detached from the mold.

15. A combination according to claim 14, characterized by the fact that the subsidiary support is resiliently mounted for the purpose described.

16. In a slug casting machine, the combination of two slotted molds, one for casting slugs with and the other for casting slugs without overhanging type-bearing portions, means for selecting either mold for use, a hand stick for holding a composed line of matrices, and means whereby the hand stick may be attached to the first mold in one transverse position or to the second mold in a different transverse position so as to bring the matrix line in proper casting relation to the respective mold slots.

17. In a slug casting machine adapted to be equipped with matrices provided with characters of difierent heights located with reference to a common datum line passing through the bases of the characters, the combination of a hand stick for holding a composed line of matrices, a slotted mold adjustable to accord with the height of the matrix characters in use, and means whereby the hand stick may be attached to the mold in different transverse positions according to the adjustments thereof so as to bring the matrix characters into register with the mold slot.

18. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of slotted molds of different sizes, a rotatable disk or carrier wherein the molds are mounted and arranged with their longitudinal axes disposed radially about the axis of said disk, means for adjusting the disk to bring one mold or another into use, a hand stick for holding a composed line of matrices, and means for supporting the stick in the proper position transversely of the selected mold, to bring the matrix characters in casting relation thereto.

19. In or for a slug casting machine, a hand stick for holding a composed line of matrices, and comprising a fixed end wall and means for clamping the matrix line against the end wall, said means including a toggle device and a rotatable cam or eccentric for actuating the toggle.

20. In a slug casting machine devoid of vise jaws, the combination of a slotted mold, and means for closing the mold slot at the front to permit the casting of blank slugs, said means being permanently mounted in the machine and movable at will into or out of action, as desired.

21. A combination as in claim 20, characterized by the fact that the mold slot closing means consists of a bar hinged to the main frame and arranged to be swung into or out of contacting relation to the mold, as desired.

22. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of molds, a rotatable disk or carrier therefor adjustable to bring any selected mold into use, said molds having their longitudinal axes disposed radially about the axis of the disk and said disk operating during each machine cycle to carry the active mold first from a vertical to a horizontal position for casting, and thence through 180 to a horizontal position for the ejection of the slug, ejecting mechanism, a galley to receive the ejected slugs, and means associated with the galley for stacking the slugs therein.

23. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a rotatable disk or carrier, a series of molds mounted in said disk and having their longitudinal axes disposed radially about the axis thereof, a main shaft, a rotary wheel mounted on the shaft, and a segmental rack carried by said wheel for turning the disk so as to carry a selected mold to and from the casting position, said rack including a section adjustable to inactive position on the rotary wheel when desired to reduce the extent of turning of the disk during each rotation of the main shaft, for the purpose described.

24.. In a machine for casting slugs or type bars from matrix lines composed in a hand stick, the combination of a series of molds, a rotatable mold carrier, a main shaft, means adapted during a single revolution of the main shaft for imparting either one complete turn to said carrier to bring a selected mold into repeated use or a partial turn thereto so as to bring each of the several molds successively into use, and means common to all the molds for closing the mold slots at the front during casting.

25. In a slug casting machine, the combination of slug trimming mechanism including an adjustable lower trimming knife and a relatively fixed upper trimming knife, a galley, and an intermediate chute comprising upper and lower communicating sections for directing the trimmed slugs to the galley, the upper section of said chute being adjustable with the lower knife, for the purpose described.

26. A combination as in claim 25, including an adjustable slide block to which the lower knife is attached, and characterized by the fact that the upper section of the chute is fastened to said slide.

27. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a slotted mold, a support therefor, a matrix line holder, and means for attaching the matrix line holder to the mold support in casting relation to the mold.

28. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a slotted mold, a support therefor, a matrix line holder, and means for attaching the matrix line holder directly to the mold in casting relation thereto.

29. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of molds With slots of different widths, a support therefor, a matrix line holder, and means for attaching the matrix line holder to the mold support in casting relation to any selected one of the molds.

30. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of molds with slots of different widths, a support therefor, a matrix line holder, and means for attaching the matrix line holder directly to any selected one of the molds in casting relation thereto.

31. A combination as in claim 29 or claim 30, characterized by the fact that the attaching means for the matrix line holder are operative to locate the holder in different transverse positions for the different molds so as to register the matrix characters properly with the different width mold slots.

32. A combination as in claim 29 or claim 30, wherein the mold support is in the form of a rotatable disk and the molds are disposed radially thereon, characterized by the fact that, at each cycle of operation of the machine, the selected mold and the line holder applied thereto are moved first from a vertical position of rest through 90 to a horizontal casting position, then through 180 to a diametrically opposite horizontal slug ejecting position, and finally back through 90 to their original vertical position of rest.

GEORGE P. KINGSBURY. 

